Christian Horner’s fascinating Miami Grand Prix grid behaviour as Red Bull grow suspicious over McLaren’s 2025 F1 car

The battle between McLaren and Red Bull is just as competitive off the track as it is on it, following Zak Brown’s taunt during practice for the Miami Grand Prix.

Cameras panned to show him on the McLaren pit wall drinking from a water bottle with ‘Tyre Water’ inscribed on the side. This was a reference to Red Bull accusing McLaren of injecting water into their tyres, in a bid to cool the Pirelli tyres and unlock more performance.

McLaren has dismissed any tyre trickery but there has been unease in the Red Bull camp, especially considering the teams rapid rise to being championship contenders.

Red Bull successfully complained about McLaren’s rear wing in Azerbaijan last year, after noticing it flexing excessively under load on Oscar Piastri’s car.

Now Red Bull have reopened their inquiries into the tyre cooling with the FIA, after spotting McLaren’s car had a lot of areas of low temperature using thermal imaging cameras. Christian Horner was spotted doing one thing to Piastri’s car before the start of the Sprint race.

Christian Horner spotted looking around Oscar Piastri’s F1 car before Miami Sprint

Given Red Bull’s suspicions that McLaren is using illegal means to cool their car, there has been increased scrutiny from them on their rivals.

Tyre cooling can bring massive benefits with the current specification of Pirelli tyre, and is one weakness that Red Bull has suffered from with the RB21.

Red Bull think it is impossible that McLaren is cooling the tyres using air alone, which is why they want the FIA to investigate the matter further.

Horner was spotted looking around Piastri’s car in a post on social media by RBR_Daily, and inspecting the brake duct area prior to the Sprint, suggesting they are keeping a close eye on things.

Max Verstappen looking to convert pole into win to close McLaren gap

Irrespective of Red Bull’s suspicions, Max Verstappen still managed to set the fastest time in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix.

His pole lap of a 1:26.204 was 0.065s faster than Norris, having stunned the F1 paddock with an impressive run for pole despite being seven tenths off in Sprint qualifying.

Damon Hill thought Verstappen was ‘squirming’ in his Red Bull, before he would go on to prove everyone wrong in qualifying.

Verstappen could close the points gap to leader Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship if he wins the Miami GP, while the Australian will be hoping he can pass Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the final podium spot.